Process of destructive hydrogenation



atented May 22, 1934 unites STATES PROCESS OF DESTRUCTIVE HYDRO- GENATION Martin Rhine, Schilling, many, assignors,

Standard-I. G. Company,

poration of Delaware No Drawing. Original Serial No. 382,062. tion November 13, Germany August 3, 1

3 Claims.

The present application has been divided out from our copending application Ser. No. 382,062, filed July 29, 1929.

This invention relates to improvements in the treatment of gases containing unsaturated hydrocarbons and in particular acetylene.

In the thermal treatment of gases comprising gaseous hydrocarbons, in particular methane, which treatment also comprises electrical treat,- ments, forexample in the electric arc, gas mixtures containing hydrogen and unsaturated hydrocarbons, in particular acetylene, are obfound that the gas mixtures so obtained can be worked up in an advantageous manner by removing the unsaturated hydrocarbons, for example the acetylene, under pressure,

by washing out, or by means of absorbents. which expression also includes adsorbents, or by cooling to low temperatures or a combination of these methods and preferably I then employing the residual compressed ,hydrogen or gas mixture containing the same directly for the destructive hydrogenation of distillable carbonaceous materials, such as various kinds of coal, tars, mineral oils and the like. This the advantage that the energy employed for the separation of the hydrocarbons is utilized for another process.

As examples of pressures coming mto for the process according to tion may be mentioned such of 10, 20, 30 or 100 atmospheres. Higher pressures, for example 200 atmospheres, and even more maybe emthe removal by adsorption or by operations may be carried out at ordinary temperature or while cooling. Temperatures higher than room temperature are as a rule avoided, on account of the rapid decrease of the solubility of the gases in the liquids or of the adsorption capacity of the adsorbents at these temperatures.

We have further found that ketones containing more than three carbon atoms in the molecule are very suitable as that these are even capable tion, V out process of unsaturated hydrocarbons, as for example ethylene, fines, such as butadiene and in particular of to the liquid products, in

Mueller-Cunradi, Ludwigshafen-on-the- Otto Eisenhut, Heidelberg,

Ludwigshafen-on-the-Rhine,

by mesne assignments,

Heinrich Ger- to Linden, N. 3., a cotand application July 29,1929, Divided and 1930, Serial No.

this applicaacetylene from gaseous mixtures containing the said unsaturated hydrocarbons, increased pressure being applied or not, as desired.

As examples of ketones of the character described may be mentioned aliphatic ketones, such as methyl ethyl ketone, methyl propyl ketone, diethyl ketone, diacetone alcohol, and ketone oils (the heavy oils obtained as a byproduct in refining acct and such ketones as contain at least one aromatic or hydroaromatic radical. As examples of such ketones may be mentioned acetophenone, cyclohexanone and methyl cyclohexanone.- The ketones obtained by the catalytic hydrogenation of oxides of carbon, which may, for example, be separated from the reaction mixture by a mineral acid in the presence water, are also very suitable. The solubility of unsaturated hydrocarbons and especially of acetylene in the said ketones is very extensive. have the great advantage over acetone for the purpose in question that they have a lower volatility.

The following examples will further illustrate how the invention may be carried out in practice, but the invention is not restricted to these examples.

' Example 1 A gas mixture having the tion'. 81 per cent H2, 1 per cent of CnH2n, per cent of CH4 and homologues maining 3 per cent N2, C0, C02, and H as may be obtained, for example, in addition.

the destructive hydroof coal, is treated in an electric arc, preferably after the removal of sulphur.

gas mixture having the following composition is obtained: 84 per cent of H2, 8 per cent of C2112, t of CH4, 1.5 per cent of CnH2n, and 1.9 per cent of N2 and others.

In order to remove the acetylenethis is washed, for example, with cyclohexanone as the solvent, under a pressure of about atmospheres, a portion of the other unsaturated hydrocarbons contained in the gas also being dissolved. The washed gas, still under pressure, which contains, besides small quantities of acetylene (about 0.1 to 0.2 per cent) nitrogen and genation The said ketones I the other constituents already described, about 92 per cent of hydrogen and 5.5 per cent of the same conditions of pressure and temperature.

Example 3 A gaseous mixture obtained by a treatment in the electric arc as described in Example 1 is cooled down to a temperature of C. below zero C under a pressure of 70 atmospheres. 9

per cent of the acetylene and of the other unsaturated destructive hydrogenation What we claim is: A 1. In the destructive hydrogenation of distillable carbonaceous materials, the steps which.

MARTIN MUELLER-CUN'RADI. OTTO EISENHUT. HEINRICH SCHILLING. 

